Online Reporter
A LOVESICK man is in hot water after staging a fake armed robbery to cover up the fact that he lacked funds for lobola (bride price).
Delight Ncube (26) appeared before Bulawayo provincial magistrate Themba Chimiso facing charges of deliberately supplying false information to the police.
He was convicted on his own plea of guilty.
The court heard that Ncube informed his girlfriend and her family that he would be arriving to pay US$6 000 for the bride price.
However, there was a major complication: he did not actually have the cash.
While the girlfriend’s family spent the day waiting and preparing for the ceremony, Ncube failed to show up.
Around midday, Ncube called the family with a shocking claim.
He claimed he and his uncles had been robbed at gunpoint, losing both the US$6 000 and their Mazda vehicle while en route to the would-be in-laws’ place for the ceremony.
He subsequently reported the “armed robbery” at the Khumalo Police Station.
Detectives from the Vehicle Theft Squad quickly grew suspicious.
Investigations revealed glaring inconsistencies in his story and under rigorous questioning, Ncube eventually cracked.
He admitted to staging the robbery to avoid the embarrassment of showing up empty-handed and losing his partner.
In his plea for leniency, Ncube told the court: “I sincerely apologise for my actions. I felt immense pressure from my girlfriend to pay the bride price. She told me her parents expected US$6 000. Since I only earn US$250, I could not raise the money. I came up with the fake robbery because I love her deeply and did not want to lose her.”
Prosecutor Samuel Mpofu argued that Ncube’s actions wasted valuable police time and State resources.
Magistrate Chimiso convicted Ncube and ordered him to pay a US$100 fine by March 31, 2026.
Failure to pay will result in a four-month prison term.
The police emphasised that the false report diverted law-enforcement agents from genuine crimes before the truth was finally uncovered. — Bulawayo Bureau
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Brother blames maternal uncles for mysterious family tragedies
A Harare man has appeared before Chief Mutasa’s community court accusing his maternal uncles of triggering a series of spiritual attacks on his family after they allegedly collected and spent his sister’s bride price without his knowledge.
The complainant, Raymond Gotosa, claims this is directly linked to the mysterious episodes currently affecting his sister, Sheila.
Gotosa told the court that he and his sister grew up using their mother’s family name, Muori, after being taken from their father’s home as children.
“I grew up in the Muori family. My mother is a Muori and so I used her surname until I connived with my paternal uncles to use my real surname,” he said.
Gotosa explained that although he was briefly returned to his father when he was seven years old, the Muori family reclaimed him and his sister five months later.
As he grew older, Gotosa began experiencing mysterious challenges, including losing money inexplicably.
Seeking answers, he approached his maternal uncles, Nicholas and Lainos Muori.
They advised him to pay maredzwa (compensation for upbringing) and even suggested that he pays bride price for his late mother, as his father had never paid any.
Despite complying, Gotosa says his problems persisted and eventually turned tragic.
“I got married and had two children who died mysteriously. My uncles never attended the funerals,” he told the court.
The situation reached a breaking point when Sheila began experiencing terrifying spiritual episodes.
Gotosa described his sister slithering like a snake, foaming at the mouth and speaking in tongues.
“She acts as if she is dead. When under a trance, she shouts out my uncles’ names, saying they are the ones causing it,” Gotosa said.
He believes these attacks began after his uncles secretly accepted US$437 for Sheila’s bride price — an act he says they had no right to do without him.
In response, Nicholas Muori denied the allegations of witchcraft but admitted the family had received the lobola.
“We received the lobola with the intention of giving the money back to the father later on,” Nicholas claimed.
He suggested the family believed the problems were being caused by their late mother’s avenging spirit since her grandchildren had stopped visiting her.
However, Headman Saruchera, who previously heard the matter, confirmed that the Muori family had been instructed to return the money.
He expressed grave concern over Sheila’s condition, noting that her physical transformation during these episodes was so frightening that “everyone runs away”.
Chief Mutasa urged the family to cease the blame game and unite to find a solution for Sheila.
Emphasising the need for harmony, the chief advised the relatives to collectively consult spiritual leaders to determine the source of the affliction.
“Resolve the bride price dispute peacefully and ensure that cultural obligations are handled properly to avoid further conflict,” Chief Mutasa ruled. — Manicaland Bureau
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Bulawayo man pours urine on wife after row over US$600
A man from Woodville in Bulawayo allegedly assaulted his wife and poured urine on her face after she took money from their home without consulting him.
Doubt Munsaka (32) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Patience Madondo, who remanded him in custody.
He was charged with physical abuse and was not asked to plead.
Prosecutor Joseph Rugara told the court that on February 28, around 10pm, Munsaka assaulted his wife, Buhlebenkosi, punching her several times all over her body.
He also kicked her repeatedly in the stomach before pouring urine on her face.
The incident followed a dispute after Buhlebenkosi allegedly took US$600 from their home and used it without her husband’s knowledge or consent.
She was taken to hospital for a medical examination and a medical report was submitted as evidence.
The matter was reported to the police, leading to Munsaka’s arrest. — Bulawayo Bureaua
